How-To

How to Convert HEIC to JPG on Windows, Mac & Online (2026)

February 19, 20266 min read

Why Convert HEIC to JPG?

If you've taken photos on an iPhone and tried to open them on a Windows PC or share them with someone, you've probably run into the HEIC compatibility problem. HEIC is Apple's default photo format, but it's not widely supported outside the Apple ecosystem. Windows requires a special codec, most web browsers cannot display HEIC images, and many websites and applications reject HEIC uploads entirely.

Converting to JPG solves this instantly — JPG is supported everywhere. It is the most universally compatible image format in existence, recognized by every operating system, browser, email client, and social media platform. Whether you need to attach a photo to an email, upload an image to a website, or send a picture to someone using Android, JPG just works.

Method 1: Online Converter (Easiest and Most Private)

The fastest way to convert HEIC to JPG is using a browser-based converter like PhotoFormatLab:

Visit PhotoFormatLab's HEIC to JPG converter

Drag and drop your HEIC files (or click "Choose Files")

Select JPG as the output format

Adjust quality if needed (90% is recommended)

Click "Convert Files"

Download your converted JPG files

Why this method is best: Your files never leave your device. PhotoFormatLab processes everything in your browser using WebAssembly, so there's no uploading, no waiting for server processing, and no privacy concerns. This matters because your photos often contain sensitive EXIF metadata including GPS coordinates, timestamps, and device information.

Unlike server-based converters that upload your photos to remote servers (where they may be stored, analyzed, or even used for training AI models), browser-based conversion ensures your personal photos stay completely private.

Pro tip: If you need to convert to a different format, PhotoFormatLab also supports HEIC to PNG for lossless quality and HEIC to WebP for optimal web performance.

Method 2: Windows

Using the Photos App

Windows 10/11 can open HEIC files if you install the free HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store:

Open Microsoft Store

Search for "HEIF Image Extensions"

Install the free extension

Open your HEIC file with Photos

Click the three-dot menu and select Save As, then choose JPEG

Note: Some Windows users also need the "HEVC Video Extensions" codec, which Microsoft charges $0.99 for. If the free HEIF extension doesn't work on its own, this paid codec is the missing piece.

Using Paint

Once the HEIF extension is installed:

Right-click the HEIC file, choose Open with, then select Paint

Go to File, then Save As, and choose JPEG picture

Limitations of the Windows Method

While installing the codec lets you view and save HEIC files, it has drawbacks. You cannot control the output quality setting, batch conversion requires opening each file individually, and you are dependent on Microsoft maintaining the codec. For more details, see our guide on how to open HEIC files on Windows.

Method 3: Mac

Using Preview

macOS natively supports HEIC, making conversion straightforward:

Open the HEIC file in Preview

Go to File, then Export

Choose JPEG as the format

Adjust the quality slider (set to around 85-90% for best results)

Click Save

Using Automator (Batch Conversion)

For converting multiple files at once on a Mac:

Open Automator and create a New Document with Quick Action workflow type

Add the "Change Type of Images" action from the library

Set the output format to JPEG

Save the workflow with a descriptive name like "Convert to JPEG"

Select your HEIC files in Finder, right-click, and choose Quick Actions followed by your saved workflow

This Automator method works well for occasional batch conversions, but it lacks quality controls and cannot output to formats other than a few presets. For more flexibility, use PhotoFormatLab's batch converter which gives you full control over output quality and format.

Using Terminal (Advanced)

If you are comfortable with the command line, macOS includes the sips command:

sips -s format jpeg input.heic --out output.jpg

To convert all HEIC files in a folder:

for f in *.heic; do sips -s format jpeg "$f" --out "${f%.heic}.jpg"; done

Method 4: iPhone

Change Camera Settings

To prevent HEIC photos going forward:

Open Settings, then Camera, then Formats

Select "Most Compatible"

Keep in mind this roughly doubles the storage space each photo uses, since JPEG files are about twice the size of HEIC files at equivalent quality.

Convert When Sharing

iOS automatically converts HEIC to JPG in many sharing scenarios:

Emailing photos through the Mail app

AirDropping to a Mac (when the "Automatic" transfer setting is enabled in Settings)

Sharing via many third-party apps that declare they only accept JPEG

Using the Files App

For manual conversion on your iPhone:

Save the HEIC photo to the Files app

Long-press the image file

Select Quick Actions, then Convert Image

Choose JPEG and select your preferred size

This built-in method is convenient but only handles one file at a time and offers limited quality control.

Method 5: Linux

Linux support for HEIC is improving but still requires extra packages:

Using libheif

Install the libheif tools package for your distribution:

Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt install libheif-examples

Fedora: sudo dnf install libheif-tools

Then convert with: heif-convert input.heic output.jpg

Using ImageMagick

If you have ImageMagick installed with HEIF support:

convert input.heic output.jpg

For users who prefer not to install packages, PhotoFormatLab works in any Linux browser and requires no installation whatsoever.

Quality Tips

When converting HEIC to JPG, the quality setting determines the tradeoff between file size and visual fidelity:

95-100% quality — Creates unnecessarily large files with no visible improvement over 90%. Only use for archival purposes.

90% quality — The sweet spot. Visually identical to the original with reasonable file size. This is PhotoFormatLab's default.

80-85% quality — Fine for web and social media sharing. Most viewers will not notice any difference.

70-80% quality — Acceptable for thumbnails, previews, or situations where bandwidth is limited.

Below 70% — You will start seeing compression artifacts, particularly around sharp edges and in smooth gradient areas like skies.

Quality Setting	Typical File Size (12MP photo)	Best For
95%	5.0 MB	Archival, printing
90%	3.5 MB	General purpose (recommended)
85%	2.8 MB	Email, sharing
80%	2.2 MB	Web, social media
70%	1.5 MB	Thumbnails, previews

If file size is your primary concern but you want better quality than JPG can offer, consider converting to WebP instead. WebP files are 25-35% smaller than JPEG at the same visual quality.

Batch Converting Multiple Files

If you have dozens or hundreds of HEIC files to convert, use PhotoFormatLab's batch converter. You can drag multiple files at once and download them all as a ZIP file. There is no file limit, and since everything processes locally in your browser, conversion speed depends only on your device's processing power — not your internet connection.

For large collections (500+ photos), consider processing them in batches of 50-100 files at a time to keep your browser responsive. Each batch typically takes just a few seconds on modern hardware.

You can also use our image compressor after conversion to further reduce file sizes without changing the format — perfect for preparing images for web upload or email attachments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does converting HEIC to JPG reduce image quality?

Yes, there is a minor quality reduction because JPG uses lossy compression. At the recommended 90% quality setting, the difference is imperceptible to the human eye. For zero quality loss, convert to PNG instead.

Can I convert HEIC to JPG without installing software?

Yes. PhotoFormatLab's HEIC to JPG converter runs entirely in your web browser with no installation required. It works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and even mobile devices.

Is it safe to use online HEIC converters?

It depends on the converter. Many online tools upload your photos to remote servers for processing, which raises privacy concerns. PhotoFormatLab processes everything locally in your browser — your files never leave your device, making it the safest option available.

How long does it take to convert HEIC to JPG?

With PhotoFormatLab, a single HEIC file converts in under a second. Batch conversions of 100 files typically complete in 10-30 seconds depending on your device's processing power.

What is the difference between JPG and JPEG?

There is no difference — JPG and JPEG are the same format. The shorter ".jpg" extension exists because older versions of Windows only supported three-character file extensions. Both refer to images compressed with the JPEG standard.

Should I convert HEIC to JPG or WebP?

If you are sharing photos with others (email, messaging), JPG is the safer choice due to universal compatibility. If you are uploading images to a website you control, WebP offers better compression with 97%+ browser support. For a full format comparison, see our image format guide.

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HEIC → JPG HEIC → PNG HEIC → WEBP

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